http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3736918/
Abstract
Objective
The
mode of influence of the aromas of plant essential oils on human
behaviour is largely unclear. This study was designed to assess the
potential pharmacological relationships between absorbed 1,8-cineole
following exposure to rosemary aroma, cognitive performance and mood.
Methods
Twenty
healthy volunteers performed serial subtraction and visual information
processing tasks in a cubicle diffused with the aroma of rosemary. Mood
assessments were made pre and post testing, and venous blood was sampled
at the end of the session. Pearson correlations were carried out
between serum levels of 1,8-cineole, cognitive performance measures and
change in mood scores.
Results
Here
we show for the first time that performance on cognitive tasks is
significantly related to concentration of absorbed 1,8-cineole following
exposure to rosemary aroma, with improved performance at higher
concentrations. Furthermore, these effects were found for speed and
accuracy outcomes, indicating that the relationship is not describing a
speed–accuracy trade off. The relationships between 1,8-cineole levels
and mood were less pronounced, but did reveal a significant negative
correlation between change in contentment and plasma 1,8-cineole levels.
Conclusion
These
findings suggest that compounds absorbed from rosemary aroma affect
cognition and subjective state independently through different
neurochemical pathways.
As an aromatherapist, there is a direct link between the olfactory nerves and the brain's response. Rosemary, Marjoram, and red Thyme are known muscle relaxers whether you eat, smell, or soak/bathe in them. I do this when my spasticity is at its worse.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what this would do to me since one of my early symptoms was smelling things that weren't actually there. I always smelt burnt toast....but there wasn't any around...turned out to be seizures. Who knew? Anyway my smell and taste was all messed up. Better now, but I wonder what aromatherapy would do for me now?
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